Help with to-go lunches!!

at0903
at0903 Posts: 12
edited November 8 in Recipes
Hey, I'm a college student and Tuesdays/Thursdays I go to class from 9:30-5 without a lunch break or anything, so I don't have time to stop in and buy lunch anywhere and really need to just bring a lunch from home. I'm avoiding wheat, so traditional sandwiches are generally a no, and I won't have a microwave...gotta be able to stick it in my bag and go! Any ideas?? I know if anyone is a good resource it's the MFP community!!

Thanks,
Allison

Replies

  • at0903
    at0903 Posts: 12
    Realizing I posted this in recipes rather than food/nutrition...whoops! Hopefully there will turn out to be some good recipes haha
  • sophiareal
    sophiareal Posts: 43 Member
    I have recently started packing lunch to take to work and had to get a bit creative as well as I am not a fan of sandwiches. Here re my go to recipes (if you can call them that!):

    Brown rice with chopped avocado, cucumber chunks and teriyaki sauce - tastes great at room temperature and the avocado plus brown rice will keep you full ... You could also add a miso soup in a thermos or a boiled egg.

    Any kind of rice or pasta or lentil salad - e.g. Cooked or roasted butternut squash with lentils and goats cheese. Or spinach with quinoa, beet root and feta. Couscous with tomato, cucumber and parsley. Pasta with red peppers and tuna.

    just some ideas to get you started...
  • AndreaG170
    AndreaG170 Posts: 104 Member
    If you don't have access to a microwave, I'm guessing you don't have access to a fridge either, so you have to stay away from perishable things too. You could pack a lunch with any of these items:

    carrot sticks
    cherry tomatoes
    apple (already cut in slices and stored)
    orange (already cut in slices and stored)
    banana
    grapes (...or any fruit, for that matter)
    tortilla chips and homemade salsa
    rice cakes
    low-fat pudding cup (some kinds you don't have to refrigerate)
    granola bar
    apple sauce
    100% juice
    water!

    If you have a decent, insulated lunch bag that you can put a cold pack in, that opens the doors to things like hummus and wheat-free chips or bread, better kinds of pudding cups, veggie dip for raw veggies, yogurt, and just to keep things like juice or apple sauce cold, since they're better that way.

    The problem with the lack of a fridge, microwave, and the obvious lunch staple, sandwiches, is your lunches might turn into what seems like several little snacks. That may be, but just keep it balanced and watch portions and salt. I take my lunch to work every day, and I wash and reuse containers.

    If you don't have an insulated lunch bag, you could probably find a cheap one at several different stores. If you're looking for something less conventional, you can find a cute insulated lunch bag on Etsy.com.
  • Saezimmerman
    Saezimmerman Posts: 93 Member
    I've battled the same problem. It can be tough.
    Best suggestion I have is to buy the shelf stable tuna salads (you should be able to get them without crackers) and pack this with celery sticks. It's almost too low calorie though so you may need to suplement it with some carrot sticks, almonds, or cheese sticks. (or maybe all three in moderation.)

    You can get pre-sliced, packaged apples at the store and some already portioned peanut butter also.

    Some the pre-packaged solutions can seem expensive until you try to grab a snack at the school bookstore. I have seen convenience stores with cheaper prices.

    Best of luck in school and I hope this helps.
  • kendra11c
    kendra11c Posts: 11
    I am a college student who has to deal with the same thing. I just started bringing a sandwich bag of cut of veggies and another of fruits. Both pre washed and but so I dont make a big fuss eating in class. think blueberries and grapes, not apples and bananas. I am sure you have ten or fifteen minutes (never enough!) breaks and a good lunch of homemade beans and rice or quino salad always is great.
  • at0903
    at0903 Posts: 12
    Thanks!
  • tanyaMax
    tanyaMax Posts: 524 Member
    Bump
  • gatecityradio
    gatecityradio Posts: 401
    400797_3083257238747_878090651_n.jpg
    Spinach, greenpepper, and cucumber salad with fat free italian dressing. I mix the tuna in it for protein.

    That's what I carry with me to work, I have an insulated lunch box with a freezer pack though. I also like to put cottage cheese and pineapple chunks together sometimes as a snack.
  • starskita
    starskita Posts: 54 Member
    i'm unless with lunches too.... but i have taken a small tin of sweet chilli tuna and some crackers and dip them in at lunch. Depends where u are to what is in season.... but a peach or nectarine, museli bars (special K are 88 cal) rice crackers. hope that helps :)
  • schpanks
    schpanks Posts: 468 Member
    I take a salad to work almost every night. If I add a hard boiled egg, the protein seems to keep me full longer. Lots of dressings would be fine out of the fridge for a few hours in a portion container. And bananas! Bananas are the perfect portable snack.
  • kimhurt
    kimhurt Posts: 313 Member
    bump
This discussion has been closed.

Categories